Energy exchange and localization of low-frequency oscillations in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Valeri V. Smirnov, Leonid I. Manevitch, Matteo Strozzi, Francesco Pelicano

Published 2014-12-25Version 1

We present the results of analytical study and Molecular Dynamics simulation of low energy nonlinear non-stationary dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). New phenomena of intensive energy exchange between different parts of CNT and weak energy localization in a part CNT are analytically predicted in the framework of the continuum shell theory. These phenomena take place for CNTs of finite length with medium aspect ratio under different boundary conditions. Their origin is clarified by means of the concept of Limiting Phase Trajectory, and the analytical results are confirmed by the MD simulation of simply supported CNTs.